Tenminste 18 doden en meer dan 90 gewonden door overstromingen in Iran.

De overstromingen kwamen als gevolg van hevige regenval. Regenwater stroomde in hoge snelheid de heuvels af, waardoor het stadje Shiraz in enkele minuten onder water kwam te staan.
Vooraf was er al gewaarschuwd dat dit kon gebeuren en waren de autoriteiten al aan voorbereidingen begonnen. De bevolking had hier echter geen gehoor aan gegeven en werden dan ook overvallen door de snelheid waarmee het water op hen afkwam.

At least 18 killed, more than 90 injured as violent flash floods hit Shiraz, Iran

credit: Mehr News Agency

At least 18 people have been killed and 94 injured after heavy rain hit the city of Shiraz, southern Iran on Monday, March 25, 2019, causing severe flash flooding.

Heavy rains started falling on the historic city of Shiraz, Fars Province on Monday morning, producing sudden and violent flooding in which at least 18 people lost their lives. Flash floods started from hills around the city and in a matter of minutes inundated parts of the city.

The chief coroner of the city said earlier that 6 men, 7 women and 3 children are confirmed dead in the floods and dozens of people have been taken to hospitals with injuries.

Head of the Iran Police Information and Traffic Control Center Nader Rahmani said the flood has carried away more than 200 vehicles, though the exact number is not clear yet.

Fars governor, Enayatollah Rahimi, said the flooding is now under control and aid work is in progress but he urged residents to stay home until further notices.

He said heavy rains were expected and preparations had been made days in advance, but many of the people did not heed the warnings. In addition, the speed of the floods surprised all of them. 

According to the state-run Press TV channel, the northern provinces of Golestan and Mazandaran have been struggling with flooding for over a week, and five people have been killed. 56 000 people have been affected. 

ran's President Hassan Rouhani has put all governors, governors general and officials in all Iranian provinces on full alert on Sunday, March 24 as widespread flooding continues in many parts of the country.

Press TV said Rouhani called on provincial officials to coordinate necessary preparations to handle various issues facing people in the flood-hit areas.

Bron: watchers.news 
 

WATCH: Aftermath of flash flooding that tore through the southern #Iranian city of #Shiraz.

At least 11 people died and over 20 injured. pic.twitter.com/CsvticYPXW

— Press TV (@PressTV) 25 maart 2019

Clean-up operations underway after flash floods hit the city of #Shiraz in southern #Iran and swept away dozens of vehicles. At least 17 people died and over 70 injured. pic.twitter.com/j4gvg1xg1D

— Press TV (@PressTV) 25 maart 2019

#Iranian Army’s amphibious APCs enter flood-stricken city of Aqqala in northern #Iran to speed up rescue and relief efforts. pic.twitter.com/U4PGfhnqGb

— Press TV (@PressTV) 25 maart 2019

President @HassanRouhani puts governors on full alert as floods continue in several provinces https://t.co/kEsR0qlZa5 pic.twitter.com/KBaB7WBboK

— Press TV (@PressTV) 25 maart 2019

People spare no effort to save animals in flood stricken areas in northern #Iran#Flood#Golestan#Mazandaran pic.twitter.com/msM6pi4NxT

— Press TV (@PressTV) 24 maart 2019

Clean-up operation continue in #Iran's flood-hit areas #Golestan pic.twitter.com/qGplk3KHF9

— Press TV (@PressTV) 25 maart 2019